Internal combustion engine lubricating means and viscous dampener



Feb. 5, 1957- R. H. MALCOLM INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE LUBRICATING MEANSAND VISCOUS DAMPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1955 I/VVE/VTORROBERT H MALCOLM ATTORNEY Fb. 5, 1957 R. H. MALCOLM ,7 2

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE LUBRICATING MEANS AND VISCOUS DAMPENEIR FiledAug. 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/G. 4 3; 48 67 F/G. 66 33 :2 I 5 i 65 A 666 65 :1 v 1/ my INVE/VTUR ROBERT H 7LCOLM i ATTORNEY I United StatesPatent INTERNAL COMBUSTIQN ENGINE LUBRICATENG MEANS AND VISCOUS DAMPENERRobert H. Malcolm, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to International HarvesterCompany, a corporation of New Jersey Application August 8, 1955, SerialNo. 526,999

17 Claims. (Cl. 123-195) This invention relates to motor vehiclesemploying spark ignition type internal combustion engines for developingpropulsion power, and more particularly to a new and improved means forconducting lubricant to an engine accessory drive gear and bearing andfor utilizing the shear resistance of the lubricant so conducted todampen torsional oscillations of the drive shaft of another engineaccessory.

It is common knowledge that the main power or crankshaftof an internalcombustion engine is rotated by means of reciprocating pistons which areoperatively connected to the crankshaft by connecting rods which areperiodically and sequentially acted upon by driving forces caused by theexpansion of gases. The thrust of each connecting rod is transmitted tothe crankshaft at a particular point or section of the length thereofcausing such particular section to be subjected to a severe torsional ortwisting impact with the result that the section tends to rotate fasterthan the rest of the shaft. Thus in normal engine operation thecrankshaft is repeatedly subjected to thrusts of the connectin rod atdifferent points along the length thereof tending to oscillate thecrankshaft in a torsional sense. shaft causes the crankshaft toaccelerate above and decelerate below the average angular speed of thecrankshaft.

Certain of the engine accessories and appurtenances are mechanicallydriven from the engine crankshaft and since the crankshaft is subjectedto torsional oscillations such oscillations are transmitted to theengine accessories unless they are effectively dampened. While noserious harm will result from the transmission of torsional oscillationsfrom the crankshaft to most engine accessories during normal engineoperation the transmission of oscillations to certain other engineaccessories will adversely afiect efficient operation of the engine. Oneof the engine accessories in the later category is the ignitiondistributor. The ignition system in internal combustion engines has thefunction of producing high voltage surges and directing them to thespark plugs in the engine cylinders. The sparks must be timed to appearat the plugs at the correct instant near the end of the compressionstroke with relation to piston position. The spark ignites the fuel airmixture under compression so that the power stroke follows in theengine. The ignition distributor which is part of the ignition systemoperates to assist in the production of the high voltage surges, to timethe production of such voltage surges with regard to enginerequirements, and to direct each voltage surge to a particular sparkplug located in an associated cylinder which is ready to fire. Hence itis necessary to obtain efficient engine operation that the distributorrotor be rotated at a constant velocity without accelerating above ordecelerating below such velocity value at a particular engine speed.Obviously if the torsional oscillations of the crankshaft referred toabove are imparted to the distributor drive shaft which is drivinglyconnected to the rotor the distributor will operate improperly and theengine consequently will tend to run erratic. It is therefore one of theprimary objects Such torsional oscillations of the crankg 2,780,212Patented Feb. 5, 1957 of the present invention to provide means fordampening torsional oscillations of the ignition distributor driveshaft.

Motor vehicles such as trucks are equipped with internal combustionengines provided with mechanically driven governors for controlling theoperation of the engine. In most installations the governor drive shaftcarries a gear which meshes with a gear carried by or integrally formedwith the distributor drive shaft. Difiiculty has been experienced inproviding adequate lubricating oil to the meshing gears as well as tothe distributor drive shaft thrust bearing. Hence it is anotherimportant object of the present invention to provide means for insuringsufiicient lubrication of the governor drive gear and the distributordrive shaft thrust bearing.

Still another object is to provide means for conducting lubricating oilto a lubricant reservoir in which a governor drive shaft gear anddistributor drive shaft thrust bearing are located in order to lubricatethe gear and thrust bearing which means are so constructed that theshear. resistance of the lubricant so conducted is utilized to dampentorsional oscillations of the distributor drive shaft.

Still another object isto provide means for transmitting and controllingthe transmission of energy from a nonsteady source of power to an engineaccessory for the purpose of achieving asteadier power impact into theaccessory.

A still further object is the provision of a viscous damper for anengine ignition distributor valve shaft.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable featuresinherent in and encompassed by the invention together with many of thepurposes and uses thereof will become readily apparent from a reading ofthe ensuing description in conjunction with the annexed drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 shows a fragmentary vertical sectional view of an engineincorporating the invention; the section being taken along the centerline of the distributor drive shaft;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 22 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a detailed plan view of a distributor drive shaft thrustwasher.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like reference charactersdesignate like elements throughout the various views numeral 10 is usedto designate the engine cylinder block. As in conventional internalcombustion engines a crankshaft (not shown) is rotatably supported bythe cylinder block 10 and is adaptably rotated by the thrust ofconnecting rods. The crankshaft is drivingly connected to an enginecamshaft 11 by means of timing gears (not shown). A plurality ofbearings 12, one of which is partially shown in Figure 3, support thecamshaft 11 for rotational movement within the cylinder block. Thecamshaft bearings 12 are suitably attached to the cylinder block 10. Asshown in Figure 3 the camshaft 11 is provided with an axially extendingpassageway 13 which is supplied with lubricating oil under pressurederived from a gear type positive action oil pump 14 when the engine isoperating. The above engine parts are of ordinary construction and formno part of the in vention except insofar as they are modified tocooperate with the components of the invention to be describedhereinafter.

A radially extending passageway 15' communicates with passageway 13 andextends to the outer periphery of the camshaft 11 beneath the camshaftbearing 12. Once during every revolution of the camshaft 11 the radialpassageway 15 is in communication with a passageway 16 extending throughthe bearing 12 as shown in Figure 3.

The cylinder block 10 is provided with spaced ledge portions 18, 19which have aligned bores 20, 21 respectively. Ledge portion 18 is a partof the outer wall of the cylinder block 10 and the ledge portion 19 is apartition disposed within the engine crank case. The ignitiondistributor adaptor, designated generally by a reference character 22,includes an elongated sleeve 23 which extends through the bores 20, 21and is suitably journalled in the cylinder block 10 for oscillatingmovement with respect thereto. The lower end 24 of the sleeve 23, asviewed in Figures 1 and 3, is in the form of an enlarged journal portion25 which is provided with an annular lubricant channel 26 in the outerperipheral surface thereof encircled by the surface 27 defining the bore21. An oil duct 28 formed in the partition 19 extends between and is incommunication with the channel 26 and the passageway 16 formed in thecamshaft bearing 12. Channel 26 is in lubricant communication with aradial passageway 26 formed in the journal portion 25. By virtue of theabove described structure lubricating oil under pressure is fed to thechannel 26 and passageway 26 when the passageway or duct 15 is incommunication with the passageway 16 which occurs once during everyrevolution of the camshaft[1 when the engine is operating. Sleeve 23 isprovided with another integrally formed enlarged journal portion 29adjacent its upper end which is journalled in the bore 20. Sealing meanssuch as the O-ring 30 disposed in a groove 31 formed in the periphery ofthe journal portion 29 prevents entrance of dirt and other foreignelements into the engine crank case and the escape of lubricating oilfrom the area between the sleeve 23 and the cylinder block outer wallportion 18. The sleeve 23 is provided with an annular shoulder 32 whichabuts the outer surface of the wall portion 18 adjacent the bore 20 tocorrectly position the sleeve in the cylinder block 10.

A distributor drive shaft, designated generally by reference character33, is disposed within the sleeve 23 and the lower end thereof, asviewed in Figures 1 and 3, extends below the partition 19. A sleevemember 34 is keyed to the lower end portion 35 of the distributor driveshaft 33 by means of a pin 36 which extends through registrableapertures provided through the sleeve member and the distributor driveshaft. The section 37 of the sleeve member 34 depends below the end ofthe distributor drive shaft 33 and is adapted to function as a socketfor receiving one end 38 of the oil pump drive shaft 39 in order tocouple the oil pump drive shaft 39 and the sleeve member 34 for rotationtogether. A distributor shaft drive gear 40 is formed on the sleevemember 34 at its upper end which meshes with the teeth 41 of a worm gearfixed to the chamshaft 11. By virtue of this coupling, rotation of thedistributor drive shaft 33 effects operation of the oil pump 14. Abushing 42 of bronze impregnated with graphite is press fit into thelower end of the sleeve 23 to provide a plain radial bearing for thelower end of the distributor drive shaft 33.

The ignition distributor adapter 22 includes an enlarged hollow section43 which is integrally formed with the sleeve 23. The hollow interior ofthe section 43 is generally formed by a first axial bore 44 which is inaxial alignment with and of larger diameter than the bore 45 of thesleeve 23 and thus a radially extending annular bearing I as viewed inFigures 1 and 3. Sealing means, designated generally by numeral andsimilar in construction and arrangement to ring 30 and groove 31described hereinbefore, are employed the seal and the joint between thetubular section 48 and the section 43.

The uppermost end 51 of the distributor drive shaft 33 is disposedwithin the bore 44 and has a radially extending opening therethrough forreceiving a pin 52. A sleeve 53 is adapted to slip over the uppermostend 51 of the shaft 53 and is provided with a pair of aligned aperturesfor respectively receiving the projecting end portions of the pin 52. Aworm gear 54 is integrally formed with the sleeve 53 intermediate itsends. The uppermost end of the sleeve 53 is closed by a plug 55 which isprovided with an upwardly facing socket cavity for receiving a matingtongue 56 defining the erminal end of the rotor 49. Thus the rotor 49and the distributor drive shaft 53 are drivingly connected together by aone way slip joint connection 57 so that the distributor head may bereadily removed and disconnected from the dis tributor adaptor 22. Thetubular section 48 is provided With a radially extending annular flange58 which bears against the surface of the section 43 adjacent the outerend of the bore 47. A clamping device 59 including a clip 60 having anL-shaped cross section, as viewed in Figure l, and which engages theflange 53 and a radially extending pad 62 integrally formed with thesection 43, and a bolt 63 which extends through the clip 66 and isadapted to engage the threads of a vertically extending threadedaperture 64 in the pad 62 in order to secure the distributor head to theadapter 22 and prevent relative movement therebetween.

When the engine is operating and the camshaft worm teeth 41 are meshingwith the distributor drive gear 49 to rotate the rotor 49, thedistributor drive shaft 33 and all the components described aboverigidly connected thereto tend to move axially downwardly as viewed inFigure 1 because of the frictional forces developed between the meshinggears 49 and 41. Thus a thrust bearing in the form of a graphite-coatedbronze washer 65 is provided to distribute the thrust force over arelatively large area of the adapter 22. The thrust washer 65 is looselymounted on the shaft 33 and is interposed between the bearing shoulder46 which it engages and the lower end of the sleeve 53. The lowermostend of the sleeve 53 is defined by a radially extending annular flange,the flat bottom surface of which abuts against the face of the thrustwasher 65 opposite the face thereof engaging the shoulder 46. Referringto Figure 6, it will be noted that the thrust Washer 65 is provided witha plurality of radially extending oil grooves 66 in one surface thereofwhich communicate with the bore 44 and the interior of the sleeve 23. Itwill be noted that the internal diameter of the sleeve 23 is of suchdimension with respect to the diameter of the distributor drive shaft 33that the major portion of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 33is radially spaced from and parallel to the interior of the sleeve 23.Thus a passageway 67 around the shaft 33, extending from the channel 26to the oil grooves 6-6 in the thrust washer 65, is provided in thesleeve 23. When the engine is operating normally, lubricating oil, underpressure, emitted from the channel 26 flows upwardly around the shaft 33through the passageway 67 and is discharged into the interior of thesection 43 of the distributor adapter 22 through the oil grooves 66. Aconventional engine governor, designated generally by numeral 68, issuitably fastened to a mounting pad 69' integrally formed with theadapter section 43. The governor 68 includes an operating shaft suitablyjournaled in the governor housing 70, partially shown. The lowerextremity of the operating shaft 69, as viewed in Figure 2, is providedwith a diametrically extending slot 71 which is adapted to receive atongue 72 formed on one end of a governor drive shaft 73 in order tocouple shafts 69 and 73 for rotation together. The adapter section 43 isprovided with a bore 74which serves as a bearing for the end of thegovernor drive shaft 73 adjacent the tongue 72. A gear 75 integrallyformed with the drive shaft 73 intermediate its ends is adapted to meshwith worm gear 54 whereby rotation of the distributor drive shaft 33results in rotation of the governor operating shaft 69. The end of thegovernor drive shaft 73 opposite the tongue 72 is journaled in a bearingmember 76 threaded into an opening disposed in axial alignment with theoperating shaft 69 in the section 43. It will be noted that a por tion77 of the wall of the section 73 is bulged outwardly to provide a cavity73 for accommodating the gear 75.- The cavity 78 is open to the bore 44.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the wall portion of thesection 43 and the bottom surface of the tubular section 48 define thecavity 78 and bore 44 and enclose a thrust washer 65, Worm gear 54 andgovernor drive gear 75. As pointed out hereinbefore, lubricating oilflows through the grooves 66 when the engine is operating and fills thecavity 78 and bore 44. Thus the thrust washer 65', worm gear 54 andgovernor drive gear 75' being disposed in the cavity 73 and bore 44 areimmersed in lubricant and are continuously supplied with a copiousamount of oil during the operation of the engine. Oil flows from the oilreservoir which is defined by the wall portions of the section 43enclosing the cavity 78 and the bore 44 to the engine oil sump, notshown, by gravity through an elongated return duct 79 extending throughthe sleeve 23. The duct "/9 has one end enlarged as indicated by thenumeral Sit and opens into a portion of the wall defining the shoulder46. The opposite or lower end of the duct 7% terminates at a point belowthe outer wall 8 of the cylinder block it). As shown in Figures 1 and 6,the thrust wash-er 65 is provided with a tab 81 which engages the edgeof the enlarged opening 80 to key the thrust washer 65 to the shoulder46 and prevent relative rotation therebetween.

As in conventional internal combustion engines of the spark ignitiontype the distributor rotor 49 is operatively connected to the camshaftworm teeth 41 for positive rotation together. The distributor driveshaft 33 forms a part of the positive drive connecting means between therotor 49 and the worm teeth 41 and a major portion of the length thereofis disposed within the sleeve 23 between the thrust washer 65 and thebronze bearing 42. Now since the camshaft gear teeth 41 are subjected totorque impulses which are created by reason Of the unsteady nature ofthe power development in the engine, the camshaft worm teeth 41 transmittorque impulses in conventional engines to the distributor rotor 49. Inengines equipped with the structure described above, the velocity of therotor 49 is controlled as to uniformity to an extent which prevents theintrusion of velocity variations which cause noticeable erratic engineoperation characteristics. This is accomplished by providing a viscousdampener for resisting the momentary deviations in velocity .of thedistributor drive shaft 33 whereby the rotor 49 which is positivelydriven thereby is rotated at a substantially uniform velocity. Aspointed out above, during operation of the engine passageway 67 iscompletely filled with lubricating oil which empties into the oilreservoir for lubricating the thrust washer 65 and gears 54 and 75. Thesurface to volume ratio of the passage way 67 is relatively large andone surface defining the passageway 67, namely the outer peripheralsurface of the shaft 33, moves in a parallel path relatively to theinterior surface of the sleeve during operation of the engine and sincethe lubricating oil between the surfaces has a viscosity such that thecohesive and adhesive properties existing between the :oil particles andthe spaced relatively movable surfaces, a viscous drag or resistancebetween the surfaces is created. Thus the torque impulses oroscillations transmitted by the worm teeth 41 are dampened and are nottransmitted to the distributor rotor 49 to cause the engine to operateerratically and 6 inefliciently. Hence it will be appreciated that theshear resistance of the lubricating oil supplied to the oil reservoir isutilized to dampen torsional oscillations and a section of the ductmeans for conveying the oil to the lubricant reservoir also functions asa viscous damper.

The embodiment of the invention chosen for the purposes of descriptionand illustration herein is that preferred for achieving the objects ofthe invention and developing the utility thereof in the most desirablemanner, due regard being had to existing factors of economy, simplicityof design and construction and impnovements sought to be efiected. Itwill be appreciated, therefore, that the particular structural andfunctional aspects emphasized herein are not intended to exclude butrather to suggest such other adaptations and modifications of theinvention as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an internal combustion engine of the spark-ignition type having aforce-feed lubrication system and a governor; a cylinder block includingan outer Wall portion and an inner partition spaced therefrom, said wallportion and partition having aligned bores; an ignition distributorincluding an adapter, head and a drive shaft, said adapter including anelongated sleeve journaled in said bores and an enlarged hollow sectionintegrally formed with said sleeve exteriorly of said outer wallportion, the juncture of said section and sleeve being defined by aninternal annular shoulder, said head being mounted on said hollowsection and adapted to close one end of said section, the wall of saidsection and the surface of said head closing said end of said sectiondefining an oil reservoir, said head including a rotor having one endterminating within said oil reservoir, said drive shaft being journaledin and extending through said sleeve and having one end disposed withinsaid oil reservoir and its opposite end extending beyond the adjacentend of said sleeve and having a gear mounted thereon, said drive shaftbeing of a diameter less than the internal diameter of said sleevewhereby a passageway in said sleeve is provided which extendssubstantially the full length of said sleeve and has a relatively largesurface-tovolume ratio; said governor including a governor drive shaftjournaled in said section having a gear fixed thereto; means fordrivingly connecting said distributor drive shaft to said rotor and saidgovernor gear, said means being disposed within said oil reservoir andincluding a sleeve member fixed to said distributor drive shaft, saidsleeve member having a gear meshing with said governor drive shaft gearand a radially extending annular bearing flange; a thrust washerencircling said distributor drive shaft and secured to said shoulder,said bearing flange being adapted to bear against said washer, saidwasher having a plurality of radially extending grooves therein openinginto the interior of said section and said passageway; a cam-shaftrotatably supported by said cylinder block having a gear fixed theretomeshing with said gear fixed to said distributor drive shaft and an oilduct theret-hrough adapted to receive lubricating oil under pressurefrom said force-feed lubrication system when said engine is operating;means for conducting lubricating oil to said passageway at the endthereof opposite said thrust washer whereby oil fills said passagewayand flows to said oil reservoir; and oil return duct means forestablishing fluid communication between said reservoir and the suctionside of said force-feed lubrication system.

2. in an internal combustion engine of the sparkignition type having aforce-feed lubrication system; an ignition distributor including anadapter, head, and a drive shaft, said adapter including an elongatedsleeve and an enlarged hollow section integrally formed with saidsleeve, the juncture of said section and sleeve being defined by aninternal annular shoulder, said head being mounted on said hollowsection and adapted to close one end of said section, the wall of saidsection and the surface of said head closing said end of said sectiondefining an oil reservoir, said head including a rotor having one endterminating within said oil reservoir, said drive shaft being journaledin and extending through said sleeve and having one end disposed withinsaid oil reservoir, said drive shaft being of a diameter less than theinternal diameter of said sleeve whereby a passageway in said sleeve isprovided which extends substantially the full length ofsaid sleeve andhas a relatively large surface-to-volume ratio; a governor mounted onsaid hollow section having a governor drive shaft journaled in saidsection; means for drivingly connecting said distributor drive shaft tosaid rotor and said governor drive shaft, said means being disposedwithin said oil reservoir; a thrust washer interposed between saidinternal shoulder and said distributor drive shaft, said washer having aplurality of radially extending grooves therein opening into theinterior of said section and said passageway; means for supplyinglubricant to said passageway from said force-feed lubrication system,and lubricant return duct means for returning lubricant from said oilreservoir to said force-feed lubrication system by gravity.

3. In an internal combustion engine of the spark-ignition type equippedwith a governor; an ignition distributor including an adapter comprisingan elongated sleeve and an enlarged hollow section integrally formedwith one end of said sleeve, a distributor head having a rotor journaledtherein, said rotor extending into said hollow section, and a driveshaft journaled in said sleeve drivingly connected to said rotor, saiddrive shaft being driven from a pulsating power source whereby suchshaft is subjected to torsional oscillations; a thrust bearing for saidshaft disposed within said hollow section, said bearing including athrust washer; an operating shaft for said governor; means disposedwithin said hollow section for drivingly connecting said distributordrive shaft and said governor operating shaft; a viscous dampenerincluding a compartment defined by the major portion of the interiorwall surface of said sleeve and the peripheral surface of saiddistributor drive shaft encircled thereby, and lubricating oil flowingin said compartment for adding a dampening load to said distributordrive shaft in order to resist torsional oscillations of said rotor; andmeans for conducting oil from said viscous dampener compartment to theinterior of said hollow section for lubricating said thrust bearing andthe means drivingly interconnecting said distributor drive shaft andsaid governor operating shaft.

4. The combination substantially as set forth in claim 3, in which saidlast-mentioned means includes a plurality of grooves formed in saidthrust washer opening into the interior of said hollow section and saidcompartment.

5. In an internal combustion engine of the spark-ignition type equippedwith a governor; an ignition distributor including an adapter comprisingan elongated sleeve, said adapter including a portion thereof definingan oil reservoir, said ignition distributor further including a driveshaft extending longitudinally in said sleeve, a major portion of theperipheral surface of said shaft being spaced and parallel to theinterior surface of said sleeve, one end of said shaft being drivinglyconnected to a pulsating-power source whereby said shaft is subjected totorsional oscillations and the other end of said shaft extending fromone end of said sleeve and terminating in said oil reservoir; a governoroperating shaft; means drivingly interconnecting said governor operatingshaft and said distributor drive shaft, said means being disposed insaid oil reservoir; and a viscous dampener including said major portionof the peripheral surface of said distributor drive shaft and theinterior surface of said sleeve spaced and parallel thereto for adding adampening load to said distributor drive shaft in order to resisttorsional oscillations thereof, said peripheral surface of saiddistributor drive shaft and said interior wall surface of said sleevedefining a compartment for receiving lubricating 8 oil, said compartmenthaving a relatively large surface area-to-volume ratio; and means forconveying oil from said compartment to said oil reservoir to lubricatesaid means drivingly interconnecting said distributor drive shaft andsaid governor operating shaft.

6. In an internal combustion engine of the spark-ignition type having aforce-feed lubrication system; an ignition distributor including adistributor adapter, a distributor head mounted on said adapter having arotor journaled therein, and a drive shaft journaled in said adapterdrivingly connected to said rotor, wall portions of said adapter andsaid distributor head defining an oil reservoir, a thrust bearingbetween said drive shaft and said adapter, said thrust Washer beingdisposed within said oil reservoir; a governor mounted on saiddistributor adapter including an operating shaft; means drivinglyconnecting said distributor drive shaft and said governor operatingshaft, said means being disposed within said oil reservoir; means forsupplying lubricant to said oil reservoir; and lubricant return ductmeans for returning lubricant from said oil reservoir to said force-feedlubrication system by gravity.

7. The combination substantially as set forth in claim 6, in which saiddistributor drive shaft is driven from a pulsating power source wherebysaid shaft is subjected to torsional oscillations; and further includesa viscous dampener including the peripheral surface of a major portionof the length of said distributor drive shaft and a wall surface of saidadapter encircling said peripheral surface of said shaft whereby apassageway is formed,

said passageway including a portion of the means for supplying lubricantto said oil reservoir from said forcefeed lubrication system whereby adampening load is added to said distributor drive shaft in order toresist torsional oscillations of said rotor.

8. In an internal combustion engine of the spark-ignition type; anignition distributor including a distributor adapter, a distributor headmounted on said adapter having a rotor journaled therein, and a driveshaft journaled in said adapter drivingly connected to said rotor, athrust bearing between said drive shaft and said adapter, said driveshaft being driven from a pulsating power source whereby said shaft issubjected to torsional oscillations; and a viscous dampener for adding adampening load to said shaft in order to resist torsional oscillationsof said rotor including the peripheral surface of a major portion of thelength of said shaft and the wall surface of said adapter encirclingsaid peripheral surface, and a lubricant disposed within said adapterbetween said peripheral surface of said shaft and the wall surface ofsaid adapter encircling said peripheral surface; and means forconducting said lubricant from said viscous dampener to said thrustbearing to lubricate the same.

9. In an internal combustion engine of the spark-ignition type having aforccfecd lubrication system; an ignition distributor including adistributor adapter, a distributor head mounted on said adapter having arotor journaled therein, and a drive shaft journaled in said adapterdrivingly connected to said rotor, wall portions of said adapter andsaid distributor head defining an oil reservoir; a governor mounted onsaid distributor adapter including an operating shaft; means drivinglyconnecting said distributor drive shaft and said governor operatingshaft, said means being disposed within said oil reservoir; means forsupplying lubricant to said oil reservoir; and lubricant return ductmeans for returning lubricant from said Oil reservoir to said force-feedlubrication system by gravity.

10. The combination substantially as set forth in claim 9, in which saiddistributor drive shaft is driven from a pulsating power source wherebysaid shaft is subjected to torsional oscillations; and further includesa viscous dampener including the peripheral surface of a major portionof the length of said distributor drive shaft and the wall surface ofsaid adapter encircling said peripheral surface of said shaft whereby apassageway is formed, said passageway including a portion of the meansfor supplying lubricant to said oil reservoir from said forcefeedlubrication system whereby a dampening load is added to said distributordrive shaft in order to resist torsional oscillations of said rotor.

11. In an internal combustion engine of the spark ignition type having aforce-feed lubrication system; an ignition distributor including anadapter having a portion thereof partially defining an oil reservoir,and a drive shaft journaled in said adapter; a governor including anoperating shaft mounted on said adapter, means for drivingly connectingsaid distributor drive shaft and said governor operating shaft, saidmeans being disposed within said oil reservoir; means for supplying saidoil reservoir with lubricant from said force-feed lubrication system;and oil duct means for returning oil from said reservoir to saidforce-feed lubrication system by gravity.

12. In an internal combustion engine of the sparkignition' type; anignition distributor including a distributor adapter, a distributor headmounted on said adapter and a rotor journaled in said head, and a driveshaft journaled in said adapter drivingly connected to said rotor, saiddrive shaft being driven from a pulsating power source whereby saidshaft is subjected to torsional oscillations; and a viscous dampenerincluding the peripheral surface of a major portion of the length ofsaid shaft and the wall surface of said adapter encircling saidperipheral surface of said shaft, and a viscous fiuid between saidperipheral surface of said shaft and said wall surface of said adapterfor adding a dampening load to said shaft in order to resist torsionaloscillations of said rotor.

13. In an internal combustion engine of the sparkignition type having aforce-feed lubrication system including an oil sump; said engineincluding a camshaft provided with a passageway adapted to receivelubricating oil under pressure from the force-feed lubrication systemwhen the engine is operating; a governor for said engine including anoperating shaft; an ignition distributor including an adapter providedwith an oil reservoir, a rotor, and a drive shaft journaled in saidadapter; means drivingly connecting said camshaft and said drive shaft;means drivingly interconnecting said drive shaft and said rotor andgovernor operating shaft, said last-mentioned means being disposedwithin said oil reservoir; means for conveying lubricating oil from saidcamshaft passageway to said reservoir; means for returning oil from saidreservoir to the engine oil sump by gravity; and a torsional oscillationdampener for said distributor drive shaft including a portion of saidmeans for conveying lubricating oil from said camshaft passageway tosaid oil reservoir.

14. In an internal combustion engine of the sparkignition type having aforce-feed lubrication system; a governor for said engine including anoperating shaft; an ignition distributor including an adapter providedwith an oil reservoir, a rotor, and a drive shaft journaled in saidadapter; means for driving said drive shaft; means drivinglyinterconnecting said drive shaft and said rotor and governor operatingshaft, said last-mentioned means being disposed within said oilreservoir; means for conducting lubricating oil from the force-feedlubricating system to said reservoir; means for returning oil from saidoil reservoir to the force-feed lubricating system and a torsionaloscillation dampener for said distrib-uto drive shaft including aportion of said means for con ducting lubricating oil from theforce-feed lubricatin; system to said oil reservoir.

15. An ignition distributor including a distributor hear having a rotorjournaled therein and a drive shaft driv ingly connected to said rotor,said drive shaft being driver from a pulsating power source whereby saidshaft is sub jected to torsional oscillations, and a viscous dampeneincluding the peripheral surface of a major portion 0 the length of saidshaft for adding a dampening load t1 said shaft in order to resisttorsional oscillations of sail rotor.

16. In an internal combustion engine of the spark ignition type having agovernor; an ignition distributo including an adapter having anelongated sleeve and a: enlarged open end hollow section integrallyformed witi one end of said sleeve, the juncture of said sleeve anhollow section being defined by an internal annular shoul der, saidignition distributor including a head mounte on said section and sealingone end thereof, the waI portion of said hollow section between saidshoulder an head defined in an oil reservoir, a distributor drive shatextending longitudinally in said sleeve and in spaced re lation thereto,one end of said shaft being disposed withi said oil reservoir and theother end of said shaft CXtEIlC ing from the other end of said sleevefor an externz driving connection; a governor mounted on said sectioincluding a governor drive shaft; means drivingly cor necting saiddistributor drive shaft and said governo drive shaft including a gearsecured to said distribute drive shaft meshable with a gear operativelyconnecte to said governor drive shaft; means for introducing lubrieating oil to the space between said sleeve and said dis tributor driveshaft so as to maintain a frictional dra therebetween to dampentorsional oscillations of said dis tributor drive shaft; and means forestablishing lubricar communication between said space between saidsleev and said distributor drive shaft and said oil reservoir.

17. In a combination substantially as set forth in clair 16, in which athrust washer is mounted on said intern: annular shoulder, said thrustwasher being adapted to b operatively engaged by said distributor driveshaft; an said last-mentioned means includes a plurality of radiallextending grooves formed in said thrust washer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,631,185 Anibal June 7, 192

1,731,823 McCuen Oct. 15, 192

2,098,718 Caminez et al. Nov. 9, 193

2,724,377 Nallinger Nov. 22,

FOREIGN PATENTS 676,371 France Feb. 21, 193

738,834 Germany Sept. 2, 194

